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International scientists have called for more cuts in the chemicals used in refrigerators, air conditioning units and plastic foams, and better recycling in an attempt to reduce their harmful impact on climate.

The recommendation by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) came in a report that aims to address conflicting efforts to restore the ozone layer agreed 18 years ago, and more recent measures to cut greenhouse gas emissions.

Chemicals used to replace substances harmful to the Earth's protective ozone layer in products like refrigerators under the 1987 Montreal Protocol, as well as the chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) they substituted, are greenhouse gases that many scientists say cause climate change.

The reports says many of these chemicals are regarded as far more powerful than carbon dioxide, whose emissions are the focus of cuts under the Kyoto Protocol climate change treaty, which came into force in February.

"There can be no trade-offs between saving the ozone layer and minimising climate change," says Klaus Toepfer, executive director of the UN environmental agency UNEP.

The Montreal Protocol was implemented after holes in the ozone layer, which shields the Earth from ultraviolet radiation from the Sun, were discovered in the 1980s, raising the threat of more skin cancers and crop damage.

The panel of scientists admits that its recommendations could only mitigate the impact of CFCs and their ozone-friendly replacements on climate change, and would be costly.

The measures include increasing the use of alternatives with "zero global warming potential", such as ammonia, reducing the amounts of chemicals needed in equipment, more end-of life recovery or recycling, and better containment of the chemicals to prevent leaks and evaporation.

The report also recommends more use of alternative technologies, such as mineral wool instead of plastic insulating foams, or stick deodorants instead of aerosol canisters.

UNEP estimates that the replacement of ozone-friendly chemicals could add US$30 (A$38) to the cost of a household refrigerator, just years after the replacement of the original harmful CFCs raised industry's concern about costs.

Special incinerators to eliminate the substances would cost several thousand of dollars each, it adds.